Soutnern CA Freshwater

BY BLAKE WARREN/WON Staff WriterPublished: Mar 16, 2017

BIG BEAR LAKE — After three-plus months of frigid weather and often snow-lined banks, Big Bear Lake trout anglers finally got the shot in the arm they needed as a steady string of warmer day temps helped kick the rainbows into gear. While it’s far from wide-open fishing, area fisherfolk are just glad to have a little warmer appendages along the shoreline and a halfway decent shot at putting together a solid stringer.

WHILE IT’S STILL technically wintertime, a week’s worth of warmer day temperatures helped spur the trout bite at Big Bear Lake, where rainbows are taking PowerBait offerings on short leaders 30 to 40 feet off the north shore from Ol’ Gray’s Landing to the buoy line.

That is now the case, according to Steve Raphael at Big Bear Sporting Goods, who reported that the action has picked up along the north shore from Ol’ Gray’s Landing to the buoy line. “Anglers are finally starting to bring consistent rainbows to the net,” Raphael said. “Going with garlic or salmon egg-flavored PowerBait on a short Carolina rig is the best technique right now. The trout are cruising a little closer to shore now, maybe 30 to 40 feet off the shoreline.”

Even with the mini string of warm days recently, the lake temperature in general is bouncing between 38 and 42 degrees, Raphael said. Adding scent to dough baits can prove to be effective in the icy-cold water but going with a short leader of less than 2 feet is paramount in keeping Power­Bait offerings just off the bottom. The majority of trout finding their way onto stringers are running a pound to 2½ pounds with the odd 3-plus pounder cropping up here and there. Aside from some decent wind expected this week temps are forecast to remain stable, with days reaching into the high 60s and nighttime temps staying above freezing.

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